Mercedes Driver Kimi Antonelli Wins US Grand Prix in Austin
Kimi Antonelli secured a victory at the Formula One United States Grand Prix in Austin, though his maiden world championship title will have to wait until the next race in Mexico.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli secured a victory at the Formula One United States Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday, though his anticipated maiden world championship title must wait until at least the next race in Mexico. Starting from pole position, the 20-year-old Italian driver delivered a spectacular start, leaving Red Bull's Max Verstappen behind. Benefitting from a strategic one-stop approach, Antonelli maintained control and cruised comfortably to the finish line.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc claimed second place after successfully overtaking Verstappen with only six laps remaining in the race. Verstappen ultimately finished in third following consecutive victories in recent events in Malaysia and Singapore. With this latest result, Antonelli holds a 123-point lead over his teammate George Russell, with only 125 points remaining available this season. Antonelli will officially clinch the championship title in Mexico next week if he finishes at least in ninth place.
Away from the racing track, Formula One has also drawn attention for developments in the personal lives of its prominent figures, alongside ongoing financial market discussions regarding the sport's parent company. Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton recently spoke about his personal life during the Austin race weekend, confirming his relationship with Kim Kardashian and revealing that he gifted a golden retriever puppy named Halo to her children earlier this year.
Hamilton, 41, discussed his happiness outside of racing during an appearance reported by E! News, mentioning how much joy he finds in spending time with Kardashian's children. The couple, who were friends for years before becoming romantically linked in early 2026, spent time together during summer travels, which included lakeside getaways and family photographs featuring the puppy.
Kardashian has also offered glimpses into her current relationship status, noting during media interviews that she is extremely happy and that a partner in her life meets all of her desired qualities. The public attention surrounding the drivers follows a period of reflection for Hamilton, who recently marked the anniversary of the passing of his beloved bulldog Roscoe, a fixture of the Formula One paddock during six of the driver's championship-winning seasons.
On the financial front, Formula One Group shares continue to capture investor interest amid mixed recent performance figures. The stock closed at $89.27 on October 23, reflecting a softer short-term trend with declines over the trailing one-month and 90-day periods following a stronger multi-year run.
Market analysts maintain differing views on the valuation of Formula One Group, with bulls pointing to a fair value estimate of $135.00 supported by expanding digital initiatives, year-round hospitality, and global entertainment rollouts like F1 Arcade and Grand Prix Plaza experiences. Conversely, bears highlight potential risks from media fragmentation, environmental scrutiny, and a high price-to-earnings ratio trading well above broader entertainment industry averages.